The PAHMIX project AIMS at understanding the toxicological mechanisms and effects of exposure to complex PAH mixtures, with emphasis on genotoxicity, mutagenesis and carcinogenesis, in order to improve the basis of risk assessment strategies for mixtures. The research will combine in vitro tests with primary hepatocytes from a high relevance fish, the seabass (D. labrax), followed by in situ validation with animals from the same species collected in contaminated areas.

A multi-level approach, from omics to genotoxicity, cyto- and histo-pathology and DNA adducts analyses, will disclose the molecular mechanisms of toxicity of mixtures containing different PAHs. These will be validated in wild seabass finally contributing to the development of novel biomarkers and guideline values for PAH mixtures, which can be used efficiently in national and international monitoring programs.

The PAHMIX project has a multidisciplinary team of researchers from the Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre (MARE) - NOVA School of Science and Technology (FCT NOVA) and the Research Unit on Applied Molecular Biosciences (UCIBIO@REQUIMTE) - FCT NOVA and Faculty of Pharmacy - University of Porto. 

PAHMIX is funded by Fundação para a Ciência e a tecnologia (FCT/MCTES), Portugal.